RECS program brings international students to tour Kemper facility

 

What happens when 30 students from 18 countries and 21 universities get into one room in Kemper County?

An opportunity ensues to learn about Southern Company’s innovative and internationally acclaimed carbon capture and storage (CCS) research embodied by Mississippi Power’s Kemper County energy facility.

The Research Experience in Carbon Sequestration (RECS) program is a summer study course created to give engineers, geologists and others a chance to explore the future of 21st century coal.

“Giving these participants exposure to a company with such a robust R&D presence impacts the paths these students choose to take,” said Pamela Tomski,  RECS Founder and Director.  “I’m deeply grateful for the interactions RECS has with Southern Company.”

Since 2011, Southern Company has welcomed the RECS program to their Carbon Capture and Sequestration facilities, including the Kemper facility as well as the National Carbon Capture Center and Plant Barry, both in Alabama.

Overall, 13 CCS-driven projects or foundations are represented in this summer’s RECS program.

As the world’s first electric power plant to combine lignite gasification and carbon capture, program participants were given opportunities to interact directly with engineers leading the project.

“It’s surreal,” said Sirin Engen of Norway’s Bellona Foundation. ”I have heard much about the Kemper plant, but I never had the opportunity to experience it firsthand until now.”

In addition to specific carbon capture techniques, presentations and discussions led by leaders in various fields gave students insight into the current energy commodity landscape, CCS policies, public engagement and Southern Company’s overall CCS portfolio.